Philip Burger may not have had his chance to represent the Springboks in the 15 man game, but his rugby résumé is by no means lacking.

One of the quickest men in world rugby, and certainly the player with the best spacial awareness of anyone I’ve seen play the game, Philip Burger chose to ply his trade in France since leaving the Cheetahs after the 2007 season, where he was the top try-scorer in the 2006 Currie Cup competition. He joined up with French club, Perpignan, and has since enjoyed the chance of being part of their victorious 2008/2009 squad. 

Burger has also excelled at rugby sevens and represented the Springbok 7s team, where he was the top try scorer in the 2006 IRB Sevens tournament in George.

He is probably best remembered for his gravity defying acrobatics when crossing the chalk for a try whilst in South Africa. He might no be diving so high these days, but he still loves getting the crowd going after scoring.

BlogSpotRugby caught up with Philip Burger and asked him a few quick questions regarding His time in France and the 2010 Super 14.

Here Goes: Read More >>

In the mould of Horan, with Latham's "socks down" appraoch?

Australian born, James O’Connor may have been eligible to play for any of the Tri Nations teams, through New Zealand born parents and a South African born grandmother, but sticking in OZ was definitely the right decision for the second youngest ever Australian to debut for the Wallabies.

His rise on the professional scene happened rapidly through a change of the guard, in Robbie Deans taking over as national coach, and Australia going through a rebuilding phase which enabled them to blood some new, exciting young players. Since then, it doesn’t seem like this fleet-footed, multi-talented, “utility” back has looked back.

BlogSpotRugby caught up with James O’Connor and asked him a few quick questions regarding the 2010 Super 14

Here Goes:

• Dooley: They call you “Rabbit”, how did that come about?

James: I got the nickname Rabbit when I first started playing rugby league. My coach gave me the nickname, because before I could catch, I was stepping and darting off both feet and the name just stuck.

• Dooley: You ruptured your spleen in 2006, how did that happen and what went into coming back from something so serious to smash your way onto the professional scene in 2008, as the youngest player ever to do so in Super Rugby? Read More >>

en-route to RWC medal #2

Making his test debut on 8 Oct 1994 at the tender age [for a prop] of just 22, against Argentina and his last Springbok appearance on 20 Oct 2007, against England in the Rugby World Cup final, Os du Randt is the longest serving Springbok player ever with an international career spanning 13 years, 12 days.

Known for his phenomenal work-rate, Jacobus Petrus du Randt, or “Os” [Ox] as he is better known throughout the rugby world, is the 5th most capped Springbok of all time. He is the only South African rugby player to hold two world cup medals and is probably the best loose-head prop the modern game has ever seen.

BlogSpotRugby caught up with Os du Randt and asked him a few quick questions regarding the scrums.

Here Goes: Read More >>

Don't give me lip #4, I'll snot klap you...!

Jonathan Kaplan is the most experienced international test referee of all time, this year becoming the first referee ever to take control of over 50 test matches (53 to date). He began refereeing in 1984 and took charge of his 1st international test between Namibia and Zimbabwe, in Harare, in 1996.  Kaplan doesn’t take kak on the field, once telling Bob Skinstad, “You talk on the radio, I’ll ref the game…”. At 174cm and 79kg, he isn’t scared to take charge, putting the often towering players around him in their place.

Who better to chat to in a year which has highlighted so many law changes and clear problems at the scrum and breakdown areas. BlogSpotRugby caught up with Jonathan Kaplan and asked him a few quick questions.

Here Goes:

• Dooley: Read More >>

Flouw rips through the blue...

I managed to catch up with another mate of ours here at BlogSpotRugby this week, Francois Louw, or ‘Flo’ as he is more commonly known here in the Western Cape. Flo has had a strong season so far in this years Currie Cup, after coming back from a mid-term injury, picked up in the later stages of the Super 14.

Francois Louw is perhaps one of the most underrated loose forwards in the country, often not getting enough credit for his high work rate on the field. Standing at 190 cm tall, and weighing in at 109 Kgs, Flo is by no means a small man. He has exceptional handling skills, is a strong ball carrier and contests extremely well at the breakdown. He is quite simply the complete package as far as loose forwards go.

Here it goes: Read More >>

Bob gives us a shout from OZ

I managed to catch up with a mate of ours here at BlogspotRugby this week , Bob Skinstad, on his tour to Oz with the Springboks, and asked him a few quick questions about the Boks current Tri Nations campaign.

Being a former Springbok himself, Bob is no stranger to the rigours of life on the tour, and should be well equipped in taking part in a quick Q&A session.

Here it goes:

• Dooley: Bob, the Springboks were criticised for playing ‘boring’ rugby after their first 3 wins, but put the flair in for the most recent win against the Wallabies. Do you think there is substance in the ‘boring’ label, or is winning winning at test level?

Bob: People are quick to criticise – especially when they are looking from an opposition fans point of view and their sides aren’t winning – I think there is only one measure for success, and that is winning – and there is also a separate measure for entertainment and that is crowd pulling factor. The IRB made the laws and the Boks play to them – they are just playing to them better than anyone at the moment !

• Dooley: PDV has done a lot better tactically so far in the Tri Nations than in the B&I Lions Series, do you think he will be able to keep the edge on our opponents for the last two games?

Bob: Yes – he has a healthy mix of senior players and young flair players that compliments his strategic edge with one of diverse talents, so they should be able to keep doing that.  Read More >>